But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1 TIMOTHY 6:11KJV
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1 Timothy 6:11 (KJV)

What does 1 Timothy 6:11 mean?

1 Timothy 6:11 tells Timothy, as a servant of God, to avoid certain harmful attitudes and behaviors and instead to actively pursue qualities like righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. The verse is a call to turn away from what is wrong and to deliberately seek what is good and upright.

Paul, the apostle, is writing to Timothy, a younger leader in the early church, giving him personal instructions. The context is a warning against the dangers of greed and false teaching, so Paul urges Timothy to separate himself from these things and to focus on virtues that reflect a life devoted to God.

The Greek behind 1 Timothy 6:11

  • The word "flee" (φεῦγε, pheuge) means to run away or escape quickly. Paul is not suggesting a slow withdrawal but an urgent, decisive action to avoid the dangers he has just described.
  • The phrase "follow after" (διώκε, diōke) carries the sense of actively pursuing or chasing something with determination, not just passively hoping for these qualities to appear.
  • "Righteousness" (δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosynē) is about living in a way that is just and morally right, especially in how one treats others.
  • "Meekness" (πραΰτης, prautēs) is often understood as gentleness or humility, a strength under control, rather than weakness.

Why 1 Timothy 6:11 matters

  • This verse clarifies that simply avoiding wrong is not enough; Paul calls for an active pursuit of godly character, showing that spiritual growth requires both turning away and moving toward something better.
  • The list of virtues—righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness—shows what Paul considers essential for a leader in the church, helping readers see what qualities to value and develop.
  • In the wider context, 1 Timothy 6:11 stands as a contrast to the love of money and selfish ambition described earlier, emphasizing that a life devoted to God looks very different from one driven by greed.

Where else these words appear

“meekness” Greek G4236 · used in 9 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
  • Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
  • Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

“godliness” Greek G2150 · used in 15 verses

  • Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
  • 1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
  • Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

“O” Greek G5599 · used in 17 verses

  • Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
  • Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
  • Romans 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

“flee” Greek G5343 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Mark 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.